MOUNT TAHAN TAMAN NEGARA MALAYSIA– HIGHEST PEAK OF MALAYSIA PENINSULAR– IT ISN’T THE PEAK THAT MATTER BUT THE JOURNEY IS - PART 1

Mount Tahan 

No trail suit more with that phrase other than trail of Mount Tahan from Kuala Juram, Merapoh to Kuala Tahan if you put that literally. Sure that meaningful phrase meant a lot more, but one hour stop on peak just a little cut from six days of amazing journey.


Mount Tahan with height of 2,187m above sea level is the highest point of Peninsular of Malaysia, located 4°38′N 102°14′E / 4.633, 102.233 in Pahang area of Taman Negara National Park Malaysia / 4.633, 102.233. This national park with total area of 4,343km2 encompasses three states of Malaysia –Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu. The unspoiled pristine rainforest in this area aged million years and house many species of protected flora and fauna. All visitors to the park and climber must get permits from the Department of Wildlife and National Parks or locally known as PERHILITAN, plus climber need to hire guide licensed by PERHILITAN and ratio for maximum of 12 climbers to a guide apply. As precautionary measure and park management purposes at anytime no more than 48 climbers are allowed to climb the mountain.

Mount Tahan could be climbed trough 2 popular entries point, either through Kuala Tahan or through Kuala Juram, Merapoh. Return trek of Kuala Tahan would take normally seven days for average climber and Kuala Juram trek would take 4 days. One way trail from Kuala Juram to Kuala Tahan would take six days (near 78km). There are groups who complete Kuala Juram to Kuala Tahan trail in less than 4 days but that would be a lot of hiking, eat light, overtime and lack of sleep. Other people have their own objective but you are advised not to exceed sunset time limit as you are in the midde of wild animal habitat which active after dark and any possibility of encounter that could risk safety would bettter be avoided. The trail would take climbers through dense lowland towering tree of rainforest, rivers crossing, muddy valley, bonsai garden, granite trek, vast squares of beautiful high altitude plant and oops no snow. The Trail of Kuala Juram to Kuala Tahan is unique that you would not find the same with other trails in peninsular Malaysia.

Cut out of Mount Tahan elevation

Tahan Mountain Range

How to be there

Taman Negara has several entries point, but two most popular are through Kuala Juram Sungai Relau Merapoh Kelantan and through Kuala Tahan Pahang. While Kuala Juram entry point popular as shortest trail to Mount Tahan even though it also do have Kelah Sanctuary and offer activities such as bird watching, Taman Negara Kuala Tahan are more busy with activities and better equipped. Taman Negara Kuala Tahan is well known for it tourist destination, got a 5 star hotel, a lot more adventure and close to nature activities package await to be explored.

Journey from Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Tahan for 247km would take 3 hours and 40 minutes while to Merapoh, Kelantan for 267km would take around 4 hours. To Kuala Tahan visitor can take express bus from Pekeliling Bus Station straight to Jerantut, alternatively you could buy ticket to Temerloh as it have more buses and from there continue to Jerantut. From Jerantut to Kuala Tahan, there are two bus companies servicing the route currently. There are train line services connecting Merapoh and Jerantut but using train services to & from Kuala Lumpur are not advisable as that would take a lot of time unless the train journey itself that you want to experience.

Related articles:

• Mount Tahan Part 2
• Mount Tahan Part 3
• Oudoor equipment - Walking Poles

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